Eramosa Karst Conservation Area

The Hamilton Conservation Foundation is committed to supporting the HCA in the acquisition of new land. The HCA is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2008 with the donation and development of newly acquired Eramosa Karst lands.

The Eramosa Karst Conservation Area is located between Rymal Road and Highland Road - east of Upper Mount Albion.  Karsts are geological formations including underground streams, caves and passages caused by water dissolving rock.  It naturally contains many sinking streams, caves and passages that are unique to a karst landscape.

While neighbourhood children have explored these caves and sinkholes for years, the rare landscape is now recognized as provincially significant and on October 26, 2006 was transferred to the HCA by the Province of Ontario, to own and manage as a conservation area. 

Consistent with HCA’s environmental stewardship record, HCA plans to preserve and showcase the area by creating the Eramosa Karst Conservation Area. A self-guided, 2.4 km trail will still allow children and other visitors to witness and experience the most scenic and interesting sites in the karst lands, while protecting the sensitive nature of this landscape.

On November 6, 2006 the Heritage Green Community Trust announced a donation of $1.5 million toward the development and ongoing maintenance of this property. 

The Heritage Green Community Trust established by Newalta Industrial Services Inc. (owners of Stoney Creek Landfill, formerly known as the Taro Landfill) provides local residents with a share of financial benefits from the landfill. Grants are allocated annually to support community, educational and charitable projects which benefit residents living south of the Niagara Escarpment and within three kilometres of the perimeter of the east landfill.                                                                    

As part of the 50th Anniversary projects, a “Trail of Green” will run through the Eramosa Karst Conservation Areas and link to the East Mountain Trail Loop.  The HCA’s 3.1 km share of this trail will cost $660,000, roughly $220/metre.

The Conservation Foundation is currently raising these funds and would welcome your ideas.  If you want to help us build our trail of green, coordinate your own event or set up an employee donation program, please e-mail jbell@conservationhamilton.ca or visit Trail Builder for more information.